It didn't take much to convince Heather to help Astrid out. The raven haired girl was beyond ecstatic over the prospect of taking the naive Viking girl shopping and even insisted the guys stay at home for this particular occasion. Hiccup had been hesitant about it at first but relented when Astrid assured him she would be fine. He had handed Heather his mother's credit card and hoped she wouldn't go overboard with it, although he suspected she might.
Without further ado, Heather's older brother Derek picked the girls up and drove them to the biggest mall in the erea.
During the entire car ride, Astrid felt an unusual pressure in her ears and strange vibrations running through her body. She wasn't used to travelling in this manner and was relieved to finally be let out when they arrived their destination. Her legs were slightly wobbly from sitting for too long and she found herself off-balance as she walked next to Heather who remained oblivious to Astrid's motion sickness.
-,-
Upon entering through the gates of the mall, Astrid found herself speechless by the view, almost forgetting the anxiety that had been mounting inside her for the past few moments. Everything looked so foreign, splendid.. and strange.
Heather smiled at Astrid's awestruck expression. "I'm guessing there weren't any malls back on Berk," she teased.
Astrid shook her head. "We have a local market and trader posts but nothing this grand. I think this place might be bigger than my whole island!"
Heather chuckled and guided the blonde to one of the many escalators. "Careful with the steps," she warned as they they stepped on board. Astrid ended up grabbing onto Heather's elbow to hold herself steady. She didn't even realize she had done it until they reached the top. "Sorry," she mumbled, letting go immediately.
Heather responded by linking their arms together. "I don't mind it," she reassured her with a small grin.
The first store they visited was filled with rows and shelves of shoes. Astrid shot Heather a questioning look. "I noticed there are holes in your boots and they don't look that comfortable. They also seem far too warm for this weather."
Astrid couldn't exactly refute Heather's statement except that her shoes had always been this way, adapted to Berk's climate and rough lifestyle.
"So what size are you?" Heather asked. Astrid suddenly realized it was something she had never considered before. "I don't know."
Heather ended up picking up a variety of shoes that looked close in size to Astrid's boots. It turned out Astrid was a 37 which was not far from Heather's own size. She ended up getting the Viking girl a pair of leather boots, which even Astrid had to admit looked pretty cool, some sandals and a pair of Chuck Taylors. Astrid failed to comprehend why she would need this many shoes though.
Their next task was to expand Astrid's limited wardrobe.
Heather made Astrid try on several items similar in style to the spiky skirt and blue tunic she already wore. The blonde didn't seem to like showing off far too much skin and appeared most comfortable in the jeans Heather had selected. Nevertheless they ended up getting a few tops, t-shirts, pants and skirts accompanied with some leggings. Heather even snuck in a dress that Astrid had scoffed at.
-,-
Hiccup was pacing back and forth frantically while Frankie scribbled in the Book of Dragons.
"Could you please relax," Frankie groaned. "I told you Astrid will be fine, Heather is with her."
Hiccup halted, letting his shoulders drop. "I know, I just.." he paused. "I hope she doesn't get too overwhelmed."
Frankie closed the book, setting it aside to fully regard his lanky friend. "You need to stop being so worried. Astrid is a strong girl. We both know that."
Hiccup sighed. "You are right, you are right," he admitted, running a hand through his unruly mop of hair. "So how far have you gotten on the classification chart?"
"As far as our limited insight and knowledge allows us," Frankie replied with a small smile. "Astrid said there are seven identified classes but we have only encountered five dragons so far and most of them seem to belong to the Sharp class except for Darkshot who is clearly a Stoker class dragon."
"How did you draw that conclusion?"
"Astrid said he looks almost identical to a Night Terror."
Hiccup rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yet he is clearly a different species. Just like all the dragons we have seen so far. They all possess striking similarities to the species Astrid is familiar with but they also have some key differences," he noted. "Frankie have you ever wondered if.."
"...the dragons really crossed over from a different timeline?" Frankie finished for him. "Yes, that thought has entertained my mind from time to time." His phone buzzed then, breaking the sober atmosphere in the room.
"Is it Heather?" Hiccup asked anxiously.
Frankie nodded, gaze focused on the small screen. "She and Astrid just took a lunch break and now they are back on with the shopping again. She says Astrid seems to be doing fine so far."
Hiccup exhaled in relief. "That's good to hear," he breathed.
Frankie studied him curiously. "You really care about her, don't you?" he more stated than asked.
The auburn haired boy simply shrugged in response. "She is my friend."
Frankie seemed to accept the vague reply, deciding to change topics. "I forgot to ask, how is it going with Ingrid? I hear you guys are going out again?"
Hiccup nodded. "We are going bowling with a couple of her friends this weekend."
This appeared to surprise Frankie even further. "You know her friends are Scott Jorgenson, Andrew Cooper and Alicia Brie, right? The exact same people that used to torment us in middle school," he reminded him.
"Maybe they have changed now? Everything is possible," Hiccup argued weakly, making Frankie snort. "You really think Scott has changed?" he asked incredulously.
Hiccup shook his head. "I can't tell her not to see her friends anymore. It doesn't work like that."
Frankie sighed. "Just be careful, Hiccup," he warned his best friend. "Ingrid seems like a nice girl but don't throw yourself over to the wolves for her."
"Don't worry, even I'm not that foolish," Hiccup chuckled self-deprecatingly.
-,-
Heather and Astrid entered an underwear outlet store and Astrid blushed at the blatant display of half-naked women everywhere.
A busty large woman with the name 'Bertha' on her name-tag approached them. "How may I help you?"
Heather put on a bright smile. "My friend is a bit unsure of her size. Would you mind measuring her?"
The saleswoman led them to the changing room area and pulled out a measuring tape from her pocket.
"You are going to have to take the top layer off, Sweetheart," she said to Astrid who looked back and forth between the middle aged woman and Heather in mortification.
Heather squeezed the blonde's shoulder encouragingly. "Come on Astrid, it will only be for a moment. Besides, no one can see us here."
Sighing, Astrid pulled Hiccup's hoodie over head and stood awkwardly still as the husky woman invaded her personal space to measure her.. breasts. Astrid felt her cheeks burn at the thought.
"Looks like a 34C but she will have to try something on to know for sure."
"So we are about the same size," Heather commented musingly. "I'm a 36B."
Astrid frowned, beyond confused. "I don't understand how this works."
Bertha let out a hearty laugh. "Neither do most people. There are many factors that weigh in when it comes to bras than just the mere cup size. A 32DD is comparable to a 40A or 38B. It all depends on how the bra sits on your body," she explained. "This is why it's important to get measured properly."
"Exactly. As a 36B I can fit into a 34C, 38A or a 30DD bra. I never understood the obsession with sizes," Heather added in agreement.
Astrid just nodded along, pretending to understand what they were talking about. As a Viking she had only known how to adjust and tighten the bindings until they held her breasts right. The bindings shown in this room appeared to be far more revealing, almost as if their intention was to flaunt the chest rather than conceal it. Which was something that baffled Astrid even further.
Heather followed Bertha around as they picked out a few bras for Astrid to try. She tried to steer clear off the most obscure ones, knowing they would make Astrid uncomfortable.
The girl in question turned scarlet as she was handed over the 'alternative bindings'. Heather had to yet again persuade the blonde into trying them on.
Astrid folded her arms around herself and jumped when Bertha drew the curtains back and stepped forward to tug on the band. "The band isn't too tight and we definitely got your cup-size right. How does it feel, Sweetheart?" Astrid didn't get the chance to reply as the husky woman suddenly squeezed the cups, making the young Viking girl yelp in horror.
Bertha chuckled. "Oh, don't be shy. You got a nice pair, very perky and full. How about we try on a push-up bra?"
Astrid clenched her fists, glaring at the woman with unleashed fury and disdain. Her patience was starting to wear thin.
Heather decided to intervene then, having been notified of Astrid's Viking temper by Frankie in advance. "Thank you so much for your help Bertha! But I think Astrid and I will continue to look around ourselves."
The older woman backed away with a nod. "Let me know if you need anything."
With Bertha finally gone from sight, Astrid exhaled shakingly and relaxed a little. She turned to Heather with impatient eyes. "Can we get out of here now, please."
Heather hastily collected a couple of cotton bra and panty sets in Astrid's size and took them straight to the checkout counter while Astrid put her clothes back on.
-,-
Astrid's blush still had not faded as they sat down by an ice cream parlor to stretch their legs.
"You alright?" Heather asked quietly.
Astrid shrugged, biting her lip. "I guess I'm just not used to someone groping my chest. That was so weird."
Heather burst out laughing, making Astrid narrow her eyes in annoyance.
"Not funny."
Heather's grin still stayed on. "So I take it you have never had a boyfriend then," she teased. "Is that allowed among Vikings, by the way?"
Astrid shrugged nonchalantly. "It wasn't something that was high on my list in the middle of a chaotic war," she admitted. "And no one has ever really interested me in that way."
Heather eyed the flaxen haired girl with intent. "But aren't you the least bit curious?"
"No."
A mischievous smile touched upon Heather's lips. "Not even for one gangly, russet haired brainiac?"
Astrid glared at her now, finding herself growing flustered again. "No. We are just friends."
"Come on!" Heather scoffed. "I have seen the way you two are together."
Although her blush was reaching down to her neck now, Astrid was not the one to relent. "Just friends," she repeated in a more firm and decisive tone.
"Alright!" Heather held up her hands in surrender. "How about we get some more frozen yogurt, I'm really digging this new flavour."
The Viking girl could only nod in response, her mind now reeling with strange, new thoughts.
-,-
It had darkened by the time they finally returned back to Hiccup's house.
While Heather carried the shopping bags in, Astrid took a moment outside to calm her nerves. The ride home had almost been unbearable, she wasn't sure if she would ever get used to it. Not that it really mattered since she wasn't planning on staying here either way.
Hiccup gaped at the amount of bags splayed over the hallway floor. "What did you do? Buy the entire mall out?" he asked in an incredulous tone as Heather handed him back Vivian's credit card. "My mom is going to kill me."
"Yeah.. this is insane," Frankie agreed with wide eyes.
Astrid stepped in the door then and suddenly Hiccup forgot about whatever that had been vexing him. He looked at her with bulged eyes, making the flaxen haired beauty shift self-consciously under his stare.
"You are back," he said with a growing beam.
Astrid nodded, smiling back at him shyly.
AN: This reminded me of the first time my little sister and I went underwear shopping. xD
Goldeneyeddragon: I realized I never answered your question, I'm very sorry about that. Frankie probably has an android, probably something that isn't too mainstream.
As always, thanks for all the amazing feedback!